Tensions Heightened

cy 4884 Mayan 15th

The party escape from the Crooked Sailor through the sewers to emerge in a crowded part of the city of Ralgah. Hobin – or Shazir as he is known to them – awaits, the Darak spy leads them to the relative safety of a tavern. Once they have washed the stench from them they adjourn inside the taproom where Pixeido casts speak with animals to talk to the strange rat called Bludger.

At this point Hobin relates the tale of his meeting with the goddess Elena in more detail. He tells them of the quest to find the Sigils and the gift of the ancient katana once wielded by the greatest elven queen ever to have lived; Elena of the Elenorians. But unknown to the party another man hears the tale…when the stranger sits next to them and demands a look at the blade they become cautious.

Vugar slips away into the shadows as Hobin speaks directly to the newcomer. He is called Jonran, second in command of the outlaws and right hand man to their leader – Malak Openshield. Jonran imparts information to Hobin and the party; he tells them of Sylveth, who is called the queen of snakes by some on the island, and of the constant struggle between the pirate lord and the outlaws.

"Why don’t you join us?" Jonran says, "You may be what we need to turn the tide of this situation."

Eventually Jonran leaves the taproom but is followed quickly – and silently – by Vugar and Hobin. The spy takes to the rooftops whilst the young assassin stalks the man in the crowded streets. Jonran knocks on various doors along the street and summons a host of black-cloaked men, outlaws by the dozen that he gathers to him.

Hobin realises that if he does not act the party will be trapped inside the tavern. He aims a shaft at the man below and lets fly; the arrow plunges through his left eye socket and nails him to the large wooden beam of a house. The black cloaks scatter in panic, screams rise above the noise of the street as wholesale panic ensues. The party waste no time. They hurry off following the large rat Bludger down through the back alleyways of Ralgah.

Vugar and Hobin disappear as the outlaws gather round their fallen captain. In the alleyway the party come across two of the black cloaks fleeing from the death of their leader – the druid Pixeido is first into the fray and with his deadly katana hacks off one of the men’s legs. The fight is scrappy, full of flailing swords and axes. The black cloaks are overwhelmed by the five men. Tarrun strikes the decisive blow with his greataxe as he decapitates the last remaining black cloak with a mighty swing.

Hobin finds them and leads them out of the outlaw district and back to the harbour. He finds the quietest tavern in the city; a mangy almost derelict place called the Fish’s Finger. The clientele are all cripples, the owner is surly and serves the most disgusting ale and rum, but Hobin realises that it is exactly the kind of place they can lie low.

For once the rat called Bludger does not follow them but very soon Hobin spots a cripple who is not all he seems. The man is a Drenai called Rosandran and it quickly becomes clear that both men know they share the same profession. They banter and work round each other without being too explicit – in the game of spies such meetings are common, as long as the two are not in direct conflict they will go about their business in peace – perhaps even sharing information in the process.

Hobin gleans that Rosandran is looking for The King Rat. "I think it is a metaphor for an organisation or and individual or perhaps even a secret society," Rosandran says, "Though I must admit I am at a loss to find it. What is certain is that its influence – whatever it may be – is strong here."

Hobin smiles. "I wish you well with that search my friend. We will stay here for the duration – my friend has paid for a room for a month."

"Good choice," the Drenai spy says, "make sure you get a room with a harbour view." The tall ship the Jandraki Hammer dominates the harbour.

Andurus casts stinking cloud to fumigate the room before they settle for the night. Vugar starts to brew poisons whilst Andurus – the sorcerer – busies himself with the creation of scrolls, which he intends to trade at the market place the next day.

That night the three katana users; Pixeido, Andurus, and Redewd, persuade Hobin to show them the blade of the ancient Elenorian queen. They are not prepared for the steady hand that draws it and holds it horizontally across his chest – Hobin is like a statue; immovable, stoic, and with the perfect balance of a master swordsman. As they marvel at the blade Hobin spots an elven woman on the prow of the pirate lord’s ship; a windswept Elenorian woman called Xera.

The next day the tension can be felt in the market place. As Andurus trades scrolls, as Pixeido gathers herbs and berries, and as the others buy gear from the impressive market stalls Hobin uses his stealth to place one of his arrows into a pirate lackey’s quiver. The man has been tasked with gathering arrows possibly with a view to identifying the slayer of their enemy Jonran.

Later there are hordes of rats scurrying in droves down to the harbour followed by dogs and cats and many other creatures. Pixeido speaks with one rat who tells him bluntly; "War is coming – Bludger wants us safe when the fighting starts."

The party return to the Fish’s Finger where the barman is boarding up the windows and doors. Rosandran nods to Hobin. "Why not join us? You will be safe in here."

But Hobin shakes his head. "We’ll take our chances outside."

Hobin uses his extraordinary senses to avoid the greatest hotspots as the fighting starts. All over the city the pirates clash with the outlaws but Hobin manages to keep them safe initially. Pixeido casts goodberry and malberry before they reach the action.

Their first fight is nothing more than a minor skirmish. They surprise five outlaws laying low from the fighting trying to sneak up on the enemy unawares. The outlaws are peppered with arrows, two fall initially and two others have bad wounds before they can even offer resistance. When it comes to hand-to-hand fighting the party makes light work of them cutting their foes down with clinical precision.

The next encounter is a little less straightforward. Once again Hobin’s haragei manages to get them into a fight on their terms. They discover a sorcerer and a powerful looking outlaw struggling with some kind of cannon. Hobin unleashes his katana and launches himself at the duo. Arrows precede his attack as the outlaw is severely wounded by a shaft. The sorcerer tries in vain to cast a spell but Hobin is too fast. With a blistering double strike he decapitates both enemies with an almost negligent flick of his new blade.

But Hobin does not stand idly by. As his companions search the sorcerer’s corpse he stretches out his phenomenal senses to find the next skirmish…